While it is unclear what the direct cause was, the Spanish massacred the warriors and priests within the temple. The Fiesta had Mexica dance and sing in the temple, dancers who disobeyed in any way were dragged off by fasting priests. The Spanish saw all of this and likely were confused by what was happening, and with the rumors of cannibalism, sacrifice and magic, they possibly interpreted the Fiesta as something Satanic. There was a great statue of Huitzilopochtli that was created for the fiesta. It is a key belief in Judeo-Christian theology to not have false idols and it was possible the Spanish saw the statue as Mexica worship of Satan by another name. If the Spanish believed this, then massacring the warriors at the temple would have been justified, as good Catholic Spanish could never willingly and peacefully observe a satanic ritual. To the Mexica, it was unprovoked and sudden, but to the Spanish it was a holy duty and truly
While it is unclear what the direct cause was, the Spanish massacred the warriors and priests within the temple. The Fiesta had Mexica dance and sing in the temple, dancers who disobeyed in any way were dragged off by fasting priests. The Spanish saw all of this and likely were confused by what was happening, and with the rumors of cannibalism, sacrifice and magic, they possibly interpreted the Fiesta as something Satanic. There was a great statue of Huitzilopochtli that was created for the fiesta. It is a key belief in Judeo-Christian theology to not have false idols and it was possible the Spanish saw the statue as Mexica worship of Satan by another name. If the Spanish believed this, then massacring the warriors at the temple would have been justified, as good Catholic Spanish could never willingly and peacefully observe a satanic ritual. To the Mexica, it was unprovoked and sudden, but to the Spanish it was a holy duty and truly